Charges dropped against parents accused in baby’s death in Long Beach

LONG BEACH >> Prosecutors abruptly dropped murder charges against the parents of a 1-month-old infant who died nearly a year ago in Long Beach.

Prosecutors said only that they were unable to continue with the case but did not specify why in open court. Nereyda Licon, 32, and Joshua Licon, 28, were released immediately from custody, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Both parents faced murder charges, according to the felony complaint filed with the court, and Joshua Licon faced an additional misdemeanor charge for allegedly disobeying a restraining order sometime on or between May 20 and May 30, 2013.

The parents were slated to be in court Monday for a preliminary hearing, but the charges were apparently dropped Friday, court officials said.

The Licons, both of Fresno, were arrested on March 31 in Fresno and taken to Long Beach the following day.

The infant’s death was discovered May 30, 2013, when authorities were called to the Hyatt Regency Long Beach Hotel at 200 S. Pine Ave. on a report that a baby boy, later identified as Joshua John Licon Jr., was found not breathing, according to police and Los Angeles County Coroner’s reports. Paramedics transported the baby to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. It appears the Licons were guests at the hotel.

According to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s autopsy report, Joshua was found to be “significantly undernourished,” which likely weakened him and made him vulnerable to death from an unsafe sleep surface.

“There is no evidence of physical abuse, but child neglect must not be ruled out. In view of this, Joshua’s family must be regarded as an unsafe home for infants,” according to the coroner’s report.

A pediatric consultant’s findings included in the coroner’s report noted that Joshua, at 7 weeks old, was found to have gone 14 hours without food, but that the “undernourishment” could not definitely be connected with his death.

No exact cause of death was found, but the report noted that sleeping in a car seat may have been a contributing factor.